Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-19
THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON ROAD
THE LAST SPIKE

The California and Oregon Railroad will
be completed and the last spike driven
next Tuesday. For this event Sacramento
worked diligently. 1t stood the friend of
the road when the building of the line was
in peril and assailed by influences short
sighted and prejudioed, and which did
their utmost to strip the road of the chief
basis for capitalizing It's credit, and left
nothing undone to cripple the development
of line projected with wise foresight to
connect by rail the waters of the Gulf of
Mexico and the Columbia river.
At such time, before and ever since,
Sacramento, the southern terminus OF the
road, adhered to its faith in the COM
pany, its intention to build the line
and its ability to overcome the gigantic
natural obstacles. So, too, the whole tier
of communities, from Sacramento to the
Oregon boundary, were steadfaSt friends of
the construction, and protested against the
efforts made to cripple and block it.
The great work has now been practically
completed. In very few days more this
city becomes the terminus of commercial
current which will throb from the Sacra-
mento to the Columbia. Portland and the
Capital Of California are about to be
united by bond of transportation which
is Of the highest Importance to each place.
At the former city the people are watch
ing the laying Of the rails nervously, and
anxiously waiting to receive the news that
the last spike has been driven. They will
welcome the announcement with sincere
manifestations Of satisfaction. We in Sac
ramento have greater reason to rejoice.
We should, by some public manifestation,
mark this important event in the citys
history. For it is one of the greatest i'm
port to California, and especially to Sac
ramento.
Assuming that the information is cor
rect, that the last spike will be driven on
the 25th instant, the commercial men of
this city and the people generally should
celebrate the occasion in some fitting man
ner. Sacramento should be the first to fire
the saluting gun; the first to send the flag
aloft; the first TO greet Portland over the
wires. and welcome her into the relation
ship created by the new bond. 1t would
be proper day and hour for municipal
officials to extend congratulations to all the
cities of the line; for our merchants to
meet and exchange similar congratula-
lions, and for people generally whose city
viii then, by completed work, in fact be-
come the California aud Oregon terminus,
to manifest their full appreciation of the
Importance of the event.
These will not be mere formalities if en-
gagged in. Sacramento's people arc re-
joiced over the completion of the line :;
their business interests make them sensible
of the great benefit this road and its feed
ers will be TO Sacramento trade. They are
not lnsensible TO the fact that it introduces
them not onl y 10 new and mere widely ex-
tended trade, but to new competition also,
and will make fresh call upon their en-
ergies. But out of that good must come
All activity in business, all quickening by
competition, enlarges business capacity,
stimulates trade and energies commercial
lie. Sacramento merchants are awake to
all the completion of the road involves fer
them, and they can be trusted not to lose
an advantage or to be outdone by the en-
try OF new competitors into her trade area.